If you are lucky enough to have lavender growing in a pot or in your garden, you are already familiar with the wonderful, fresh, clean aroma its leaves and flowers give to your skin after you handle it. But are you aware of its healing properties and the benefits it brings to both your hair and skin?
Lavender is what is called a “balancing” essential oil. It works not only by itself but with other oils to create a range of beneficial hair treatments. Used alone, it acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-bacterial agent and is regenerative for your skin all at the same time. As well as being great as a standalone, Lavender enhances the properties of other oils such as Clary Sage and Myrtle for balancing and antibacterial actions. There are lots of different varieties of lavender growing all over the world the most popular being, French and English but at last count there were 39 different varieties! They are all wonderful. The main difference is in the amount, potency and delicacy of the oil extracted.
When I first went natural I used a Lavender/Jojoba Oil blend to help with hair growth around my chemically thinned hairline, massaging it in gently once a day, just before bed. I also used that same blend to ease my very painful scalp, which was busy trying to heal itself from years of chemical abuse. Even today, I use lavender regularly in my homemade products fpr both hair and skin.
A few drops of Lavender oil in a base of warmed Evening Primrose Oil massaged in the temple area can ease a headache and massaged in the shoulder area can reduce neck pain and assist in a good night’s sleep.
Lavender has a very low incidence of sensitivity, but as with any essential oil, before using a blend, I recommend you test for sensitivity by putting a drop or two on the inside of your arm and waiting 24hrs, before using it on your scalp.
